Refrigerating apparatus



Feb. 28, 1933. R. R. cANDoR v REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 29, 1930 INVENTOR BYM/@MW ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1933'. R, R. CANDQR 1,899,013

REFRIGERAT I NG APPARATUS Filed Nov. 29, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 il, '//W/W//y/ MB fw Patented Feb. 28, 1933 UNITED STATESg PATENT OFFICE ROBERT B. CANDOB.. OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOB T0 FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, 0I'

' DAYTON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE BEFBIGERATING arranarus Application tiled November 29, 1930. Serial Fo. 499,040.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to drinking water coolers.

In the drinking water coolers in use at the present time, the water supplied from the bubbler or fountain is at a comparatively low temperature. l It has been found that some persons dislike drinking water at such a comparatively low temperature while others have a preference for it.

An object of the invention is to provide an improved drinking water cooler having means controlled by the one desiring to drink for securing water from a bubbler, fountain or other dispensing Vdevice almost instantaneously at the particular temperature which he personally desires.

Further objects ,and advantages of the present invention will be apparent f rom the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention 1s clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a water cooler embodying one form of my invent-ion, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a drinking water cooler embodying another form of my invention.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a drinking water cooler embodying a further form of my invention. y

Referring to the drawings and more p articularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a dr water cooler cabinet 20 which is supph with water suitable for drinking purposes from an outside source through the conduit 21 and through a pressure reducing valve 22 which automatically the preure of the water in the cooler to provide the proper height of discharge at the bubbler hereinafter described regardle of the pressure in the source 21. A pair of water reservoirs or tanks 23 and 24 are positioned within the cabinet 20 and connected to the pressure reducing valve 22 by the conduit 25. These reservoirs are provided vwith suitable vents 59 for providing for the escape ofI trapped air when the reservoirs are being filled. The

upper portion of the cabinet 20 is lled with suitable insulation 58 which surrounds the reservoirs 23 and 24and connecting conduits. In accordance with the present invent-ion, means are provided for cooling the water in the reservoirs 23 and 24 to diiferent temperatures. To this end a refrigerating system is positioned preferably in the lower part of thecabinet 20.' In Fig. 1 for illustrative purposes there is shown diagrammatically a, refrigerating system of the compressor-condenser-expander type including a compressor 31 for compressing the refrigerant, preferably sulphur dioxide, and for forwarding it to the condenser 32 where it is liquefied and 55 collected in the receiver 33. A supply conduit 36 supplies liquid refrigerant to a tloat chamber 37 ositioned within the reservoir 23 where e liquid refrigerant vaporizes because of the absorption of heat and is returned 7 from the compressor through the return conduit 38. The actuating means for the compressor preferably comprises a motor 34 connected by pulley and belt means 35 to the compressor. A. prsure responsive switch means 39 is preferably connected to the return conduit 38`for controlling the motor 34 to provide alternating operating and idle periods of the compressor according to the pressure and consequently the temperature of the float so.

chamber 37. The Water in the reservoir 34 is cooled by a cooling member 41 which is supplied with liquid refrigerant from the oat chamber 37 through the conduit 42 past the valve 43 and through the conduit 44. The valve 43 is controlled by a thermostatic bulb 45 positioned in the water reservoir 24. The opening of the valve 43 allows liquid refrigerant to flow from the ioat chamber 37 through the conduit 42 and 44 to cooling inember 41 and also allows gaseous refrigerantto escape from the cooling member through the conduits 44 and 50. The closing of the valve 43 prevents the flow of liquid refrigerant inthe float chamber 37 to the cooling member 41 and also prevents the flow of gaous refrigerant from the cooling member 41 back to the oat chamber 37. Consequently gaseous refrigerant formed by the absorptionA of heat from the water in the reservoir 24 collects in 100 the top of the cooling member 41 and forces liquid refrigerant out of the cooling member 41 through the conduit 46 connected to the bottom thereof. This conduit 46 conducts liquid refrigerant to a reservoir 47 preferably positioned above the level of liquid refrigerant within the float chamber 47. A conduit 48 is connected to the top of the reservoir 47 to conduct displaced gaseous refrigerant through a 'conduit 49 into the float chamber 37. By means of this system which includes the conduits 42, 44, 46, 48, 49 and 50 as well as the valve 43, the cooling member 41, the reservoir 47 and the thermostatic bulb 45, the temperature of the water within the reservoir 24 may be regulated.

The valve 43 is o ned and closed at roper times so that only tfi proper amount o liquid refrigerant is kept within the cooling member 41 to keep the water in the reservoir at thetempature to which the thermostatic bulb 45 is set. According to the present invention, the thermostatic bulb 45 is set to cool the water in the reservoir 24 a lesser amount, that is to maintain a higher temperature than that of the water in the reservoir 23, the temperature of which is controlled by pressure responsive switch means 39.

Conduits 51 and 52 are connected to the bottom of each of the water reservoirs 23 and 24 and conduct the cooled Water to a combined control and mixing valve 53 which both turns olf and on the Water as well as varys the ratio between the amount of water from each of the water reservoirs 23 and 24 through the conduit 54 to the bubbler or fountain 55. By properly manipulating the operatin handle 56 of the mixing valve 53, any desire ratio of water from the reservoirs 23 and 24 may be obtained in order to obtain the desired temperature of water in the fountain or bubbler while the valve 22 limits the pressure at the bubbler 55 to provide the proper height of dischar from the bubbler 55. The cabinet 20 is provided with a catch basin 57 to catch the water discharged from the fountain 55.

In Fig. 2 there is shown another embodiment of the invention which includes a drinking water cooler cabinet 60 provided with a fountain or bubbler 61 and a. catch basin 62. Situated within the upper portion of the water cooler are a pair of water reservoirs 63 and 64 which are supplied with water suitable for drinking purposes though the conduit 65 which connects the reservoirs to a suitable source of supply. These reservoirs 63 and 64 are provided with suitable vents 65 and 66 for permitting the escape of air when the reservoir is being filled. The reservoirs 63 and 64 respectively are cooled by cooling units 67 and 68 which are supplied with liquid refrigerant through the conduit 69 and the conduit 70 from a refrigerating system, preferably similar to that previously described, which, as before, is preferably situated in the lower part of the cabinet of the drinking water cooler 60. The gaseous refrigerant is withdrawn from the cooling unitsv 67 and 68 through the conduit 71. The water within the reservoir 64 is cooled to a lesser degree than the water within the reservoir 63 since the valve 72, which is controlled and operated by the thermostatic bulb 73 positioned within the reservoir 68, controls the escape of gaseous refrigerant. By this means the pressure and consequently the temperature of the cooling unit 68 is controlled to maintain the proper temperature of the water within the reservoir 64 according to the setting of the thermostatic bulb 73.

Conduits 75 and 76 conduct water from the bottom of the reservoirs 63 and 64 to a mixing valve 77 which is provided with an operating handle 7 8 for controlling the ratio of the amount of water which is taken from each of the conduits 75 and 76. The mixing valve in this embodiment is connected by a conduit 79 to a combined automatic pressure and flow control valve 80 which controls the flow and pressure of water through a conduit 81 to the bubbler or fountain 61 and automatically limits the pressure, so that the water is discharged at the proper height from the bubbler 61 regardless of the amount of turn of the handle 80a and regardless of the pressure in pipe 65. By moving the operating handle 78 of the mixin valve 77 to the pro r position, any desired temperature o water within reasonable limits may be obtained.

In either modification the warmer water reservoir may be an uncooled bypass around the colder water reservoir so that the branch 83 can discharge directly into the pipe 52 without passing through reservoir 24 and the pipe 82 can discharge directly into pipe 7 without passing through reservoir 64.

Thus in Fig. 3 there is shown a water cooler in which the warmer water reservoir is not used or has been omitted, and in which the uncooled by-pass is provided around the cooled water reservoir. In this modification a compressor 100 forwards com ressed refrigerant to a condenser 101 which 1n turn discharges into the liquid refrigerant resservoir 102. Liquid refrigerant then flows through the line 103 to the refrigerant eva rator 104 through the fixture 105. e evaporated refrigerant returns through the fixture 106 into the line 107 and back to the compressor 100. The temperature of the liquid refrigerant in the evaporator 104 is maintained at a substantially constant temperature by any suitable means, such as an expansible bellows 108 connected to the line 107 and controlling a snap switch 109, which in turn controls the starting and stopping of the motor 110 which drives the compressor 100. The evaporator 104 may be of the type now recognized in the art, an example of which is more fully disclosed in the patent to RG. Osborn 1,556,708, patented October 13, 1925. The Water cooler is provided with a source of drinking water 111, which may be connected to the city Water supply or any other source of drinking water, preferably under pressure. A portion of the Water coming from the supply 111 is introduced into the drinking Water reservoir 112 and is discharged therefrom through the conduit 113. Means are provided for by-passing another portion of the water coming from the water supply 111, and to this end a conduit 111 1s connected to the pipe 111 and joins the conduit 113 through the medium of a mixing valve 115, which mixing valve may be adjusted to vary the ratio of water flowing through the conduits 113 and 114. .From the mixing valve 115, the Water is dlscharged through the bubbler 116 through the medium of a combined float control and pressure control valve 117 which maintains a const-ant discharge pressure atthe bubbler 116, and which can lshut oi and turn on the ioyv of liquid to the bubbler 116 by the operation of a handle 119. Devices of the character disclosed at 115 and 117 are now well-known in the art, and need not be described further. By the emhodiment shown in this figure, a person may vary the temperature of the water discharged at the discharge device or bubbler 116 by adjusting the handle 119 of the device 115 to vary the ratio of the How through the conduits 113 and 114, and thereafter manipulating the handle 118 to start the iloyv of Water through the device 116.

By means of the invention disclosed herein 'it is possible for a person to obtain almost instantaneously drinking Water of the desired temperature without waiting for a large quantity of water to be cooled or tempered for his own particular purpose. As soon as a small quantity of water has been discharged, so that the standing water in the conduits 113 and 114 has been discharged it-is possible for such a person to obtain the desired drinking water temperature within the range of Vthe temperature within the reservoir 112 and in the water supply 111.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form` it isto be understood that other forms might beladopted, all coming Within the scope of the claims which follow.

at is claimed is asl follows:

1. In a drinking water cooler, the combination of a unitary drinking Water discharge device and means for securing the discharge 'of Water at various desiredtemperat-ues from the discharge device including a source of drinking water, means of a substantially constant temperature for cooling avportion of the water, means for mixing variable ratios the cooled portion with another portion of water from said source of drinking water and discharging said mixed portions from the discharge device.

2. In a drinking water cooler, a source of drinking Water, a reservoir receiving drinking Water from said source, means of a substantially constant temperature `for cooling the Water Wit-hin the reservoir, a drinking Water discharge device, means for by-passing a port-ion of water from said source around said reservoir without subject-ing it to the cooling action of said reservoir, and means for mixing and discharging in one stream in variable ratios the Water from the reservoir and the by-passed portion to secure a desired temperature.

3. In a drinking water cooler, a cabinet, a drinking Water discharge device connected to the cabinet, and means for securing the discharge of Water at any desired temperature from the discharge device including a source of drinking water, means within the cabinet for automaticallycooling a portion unitary manual control means for varying the ratio of the cooled water and the warmer water.

5. In a drinking water cooler, a` pair of water reservoirs connected to a source of water supply, means for cooling the waterin one of the reservoirs to one temperature, means for maintaining the water in the second reservoir at a second temperature, and means for mixing and discharging water in one stream from said reservoirs.

6. In a drinlng water cooler,` a pair of water reservoirs connected to a source of water supply, means for cooling the water in one of the reservoirs to one temperature, means for maintaining the water in the second reservoir at a second temperature, means for mixing and discharging water from said reservoirs in one stream and means for varving the ratio of water discharged from said reservolrs.

7. In a drinking water cooler, a pair of water reservoirs having means for connecting to a source of Water supply, means for cooling the water in one of the reservoirs to one temperature, means for maintaining the Water in the second reservoir at a second/temperature, means for mixing and discharging water from said reservoirs in one stream and means for t.arymg the temperature of the discharged wa r.

8. A drinking water cooler including a water discharge device, a refrigerating system, a source of Water, means for thermally contacting Water from said source with said system to cool the water, and means independent of said refrigerating system for varying the temperature of the water discharged from said device.

9. A drinking water cooler, including a water discharge device, a refrigerating system, an automatic temperature control for said system, a source of water, means for thermally contacting Water from saidsource with said system to cool the water, and means for varying the temperature of the water discharged from said device independently of the control of the refrigerating system.

10. In a drinking water cooler, a bubbler, means for connectin to a source of drinking water, means for coo ing at leasta portion of the Water, means for mixing the cooled water with Warmer Water and discharging the mixture from the bubbler in one stream, control means for varying the ratio of the cooled Water and the warmer -Water discharged from said bubbler, means for controlling the discharge of Water from said bubbler and means for automatically limiting the pressure of the water discharged at said bubbler regardless of the pressure of the source of the drinking Water.

In testimony whereof I hereto aiiix my signature.

ROBERT R. CANDOR. 

